SPENCER, North Carolina (Achieve3000, May 17, 2019). Don't ever let anyone tell you that young people can't do great things. Take it from Mrs. Fleming's 7th-grade class at North Rowan Middle School in North Carolina. This compassionate classroom crew is proof-positive that young people can make a difference in the lives of others. And activism can begin with four little words: How can we help?
So how do you go from sitting in a classroom to tackling the problems of the world? For Mrs. Fleming's class, it all started with learning about horrible global events that devastate individuals, families, and communities.
"We planned a trip to Washington, D.C., so that we could immerse ourselves in learning about the Holocaust and refugees," said Mrs. Fleming. "We [also] had the opportunity to participate in a Doctors Without Borders interactive refugee exhibit. We read Achieve3000 articles and novels about refugees, and we watched documentaries and news clips."
Then, the students had yet another extraordinary experience: the chance to speak via video teleconference to a refugee named Lubo, one of the estimated 20,000 Lost Boys who found themselves displaced or orphaned during a deadly civil war that began in Sudan in the 1980s. The students were very moved by Lubo's story as he told them about what he witnessed before he fled Sudan.
"The enemy from the North attacked, people were caught, houses burned, nothing [was] left," student Katie P. remembered him saying. "[It was] really sad because all he had and everything he lived for was no longer there, no one to count on, nothing."
"[We realized that] we usually took everything for granted," said Katie's classmate, Jennifer G. "We never appreciated what we had."
It's one thing to read about history, and quite another to hear from someone who lived it, and who made it clear that Sudan is still affected by life-threatening issues like poverty and lack of access to clean water. The students knew they had to do something, and that's when they asked: "How can we help?"
Soon, they found their answer.
The class was invited by the nonprofit group Mothering Across Continents to host a Walk for Wisdom walkathon to raise money and awareness for impoverished schools in South Sudan. It was a great idea—but the students wanted to take it further.
"We said 'yes,' but asked if we could involve our whole community," Mrs. Fleming said. She joined forces with Karen Puckett, a media specialist at Isenberg Elementary School in Salisbury, North Carolina, which had participated in a school-based Walk for Wisdom for several years.
Meanwhile, the students in Mrs. Fleming's class leaped into action, working in teams to design t-shirts and flyers for the April 2019 walkathon. They also created an iMovie, a website, and a GoFundMe page to help raise money.
Even after all that, the students were just getting started! They planned a Refugee Awareness Community Night at their local bookstore, where they spoke to Ngor Kur Mayol—another Sudanese refugee. The event featured their presentations, art, and writing, as well as a marketplace to raise money for a source of clean water for the students at Nyarweng Primary School in South Sudan.
Mrs. Fleming and her students hope they will eventually be able to exchange messages and photos with the Nyarweng Primary School pupils.
All this might be just the beginning of an ongoing effort. "Our hope is that these events will turn into yearly global events for our county, and that our community will unite for a global cause to help youth in another country," Mrs. Fleming explained.
Needless to say, Mrs. Fleming is extremely proud of how her class has stepped up to help—not that she's surprised.
"Our students have incredible ideas," she said. "All we need to do is listen and encourage. I love seeing where my students' voices and actions can lead us."
And if you want to make a difference in the lives of others, student Kimberly F. has some advice.
"You may think that starting a project to change the world would be difficult," she said. "But if you really put your mind into it, you can achieve amazing things. It can start with a simple act in your community, but you'll see that it will grow and grow."
Most importantly, the students say, don't ever feel like you're too young to make a mark on the world.
"There are many things we are limited to do because we are kids," Katie said. "A lot of people may underestimate [us], but that is what drives us to stand out and help other people."
The best alternate headline for this Article would be __________.
A.Mothering Across Continents Arranges Walk for Wisdom Walkathons
B.Middle School Class Creates GoFundMe Page To Raise Money
C.Students Use Achieve3000 Articles To Learn About Tragic World Events
D.Students Tackle Global Problems One "Step" at a Time